Self-closing and slow-closing valve



Sept. l1, 1945. 4

5 Sheets-smet 1 Filed May l2, 1945 l 8 .d n a M. )M

Sept. 11, 1945- H. c. KRONE E-riAl. 2,384,627

SELF-CLOSING AND SLOW-CLOSING VALVE Filed May 12, 1943 SISheets-Sheet 2 mlm mm /f mi@ f A TTOKNEY.

Sept 11, 1945. H. c. KRONE AL 2,384,627

SELF-CLOSING AND SLOW-CLOSING VALVE F'iled May l2, -1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS.'

ATTON?.

Patented Sept. 11, 1945 SELF-CLOSING AND SLGW-CLGSING VALVE Howard C. Krone, River Edge, and William Meyer,`

East Orange, N. J., assignors to WheatonBrass v Works, Newark, N. J., a 'corporation of New Y I Jersey Application May 12, 1943,-SerialvNo. 486,648

(o1. 2er- 132i 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in valves; and .the invention has reference, more particularly, to an improvedvalve of the selfclosng and slow-closing type.

The invention has for an object-to provide a self-closing and slow-closing-valve having in combination with its movable valve member a novel dash-pot means which is so arranged and constructed as toy prevent .substantial transmission of the pressure of liquid in ltheliquid delivery line, by which the valve. is served, from exerting direct raxial thrust upon the valve member in opposition to its opening movement, whereby the latter may be quickly and easily opened, no matter what the line pressure may be, land consequently all necessity for adjustingthevalve control and `closing means in accommodation tovarious line pressures is avoided; with the advantage that the valve may be as easily and quickly manipulated under variousand variable line pressures, as it is when the liquidis merely delivered by gravity.

The invention has for another objectv to provide a self-closing and slow-closing valve having a novel dash-pot construction, the cylinder of which is carried directly uponv the valve member so as to be movable therewith, and the plunger of which isstationary, being supported by and from the valve casing; thus isolatingrthe dash-pot chamber and its content from the effects of pressure of liquid in the liquid delivery line by which the valve isserved, and thus likewise eliminating axial thrust of said liquid pressure uponthe valve memberl per se in opposition to its opening movement.

The invention has for a further objectv to provide a self-closing and slow-closing valve having a novel dash-pot construction as above characterized, including a single valvele'ss .liquid ,ingress and egress means operative to permit easy opening manipulation of the valve, but being effective to retard its self-closing movement sov as to prevent sudden back pressure and consequent waterhammer in the liquid delivery line by which the valve is serve-d. i And another objectfof the invention is to provide variations of the dash-pot single valveless ingress and egress `means respectively adapted for use in valves equipped with upwardly opening valve members and those equipped with downwardly opening valve members.

Other objects of this invention, not at `this time more particularlyenumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same. Illustrative embodiments of thevinvention are shown in ythe accompanyin-g drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of a valve according to this invention equippedfwith an upwardly opening valve member, the latter being shown in closedposition; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectionalfview of the samewithiits valve member shown in lopen position; and Fig .3 is VVa horizontal sectional View, taken online V3--3 in'Fig.-2.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal `sectional View of a valve according to this invention equipped with la 'downwardly opening valve members the latter 'being shown in closed position. -5

Similar' charactersI of reference areemployed in the above described viewsfto indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to Figs. -l to?, inclusive, the form of valve therein shown comprises -a valve casing or housing Ii)A of suitable. shape,V the interior of which is subdivided -by a transversepartition `II having `formed ltherein a valve port- I2;` above which is the valve intake chamber -l3;and-below which is the valve outletchamber I4; 1- As show-n, leading laterally into' the intake chamber I3 is a suitablyformed intake connection I5r to which a liquid delivery pipe .(not shown) maybe suitably coupled or joined; andleading axially from the outlet chamber Idrisasuitably formed discharge connection IB to which-a liquiddischargepipe (not shown) may be-.suitablycoupled :or joined. Formed-on the-upper side ofthe partition I I, and around the valveport I2- therein, isan annular chamfered valveseat-I'l..

Above and in communication with the valve intake chamber i3, to extendtherefrom irl-,axial alignment with the valve portv I2 is an extension I8. of the valve body` I0,lwhichis open at Vits free end; lbut normally closed'` Iby a detachable 'cap `plate I9 suitably secured thereto. Y I

Cooperative' with said valve port- I2` and its valve seat I1 isthe body 2of'an upwardly opening valve. Suitably afxed to the upper `side of this valve -body is the closed bottom 2I ofan upwardly open dash-pot cylinder 22.` Carried by the valve body 2li` and said dash-pot cylinder 22, in suitably aixed relation thereto, is -an annular valve member 23,` the'same being preferably made of a material or composition `sufliciently soft `to compress conformingly and sealingly to thevalve seat Il, when the valve member is engaged therewith in valve port closing position.

Aixed to the cap plate I9, so as to depend therefrom in axial alignment with the dash-pot cylinder 22, is a supporting post 2li bywhich is supported a stationary piston ory plunger 25. This piston or plunger 25 enters and lits-'within the upwardly open end of said dash-'pot cylinder 22,A Y Said piston or plunger includes a piston washer 25 of comparatively exible material, having an upstanding peripheral skirt 21 to slidingly hug the walls of said dash-pot cylinder 22, so .as to serve as a leak-proof seal between the latter and Said piston or.plunger. Arranged between the stationary piston or plunger 25 and the closed bottom of the dash-pot cylinder 22 is a compression spring 28 adapted to yieldafbly exert a downward thrust upon the dash-pot cylinder 22 and the valve body 20 joined thereto, whereby to move the valve body and its valve member 23 down upon the valve seat II and in closed relation to the valve port I2.

Dependent from the valve body 20, in axial extension therefrom, is a thrust stud 29 on the lower end of which is rotatably mounted an antifriction roller 30. Projecting radially from the sides of said thrust stud 29 are guide ribs or flanges 3I and 32 which slidingly engage the margins of the valve port I2, so as to guide the axial opening and closing movements of the valve body 20 and its valve member 23.

The valve body and dash-pot cylinder structure is provided with a single valveless ingress and egress means which provides communication for liquid between the interior of the dash-pot cylinder 22 and the outlet chamber I4 of the valve. In a form thereof suitable for use with the upwardly opening valve body above described, said ingress and egress means is formed in the guide rib or flange 32, which is laterally enlarged for accommodation thereof. As thus located said ingress and egress means comprises an elongated chamber 33 formed in the valve body 20 and said guide rib or flange 32, the same being closed at its bottom end and also closed at its top end by the bottom wall of said dash-pot cylinder 22. Aflixed to and extending through the bottom wall of said dash-pot cylinder 22, so as to communicate with the interior of the latter, is a tubular duct 34. 'I'his duct l34 extends downwardly into the chamber 33 to communicate with the interior thereof, and terminates short of its bottom end. Also formed in the guide rib or flange 32, parallel to but separate from the chamber V33, is an outlet passage 35 having a. closed upper end but an open bottom end in com-munication with the loutlet chamber I4 of the valve housing. The upper end Vof said outlet passage 35 communicates with 4the interior of the chamber 33 through a'lateral way or port 36, which is located a substantial distance above the open bottom end of said tubular duct 34.

Means for opening the valve by'manual operation comprises a spindle 31 journaled to extend -transversely through the outlet chamber I4 of the valve housing. One end 4of said spindle projects exteriorly through a vstuiing box (not shown) as is customaryY with valves of the kind to which this invention relates,'and the exterior portion of the spindle is provided with wrench engageable or hand lever means (not shown) for manually rotating the same. Fixed on said spindle, so as to turn therewith, is a lift cam 38. Said lift cam, when rotated in a proper direction, is adapted to engagevthe anti-friction roller 30, whereby to impart an upward thrust upon the thrust stud 29, to thereby raise the valve body 20 and its valve member 23, and thus open the valve 'port I2 to outflow of liquid therethrough from the intake chamber I3 to and through the outlet chamber I4 (see Fig. 2).4

As the valve body 20 is raised to valve port opening position, ythe dash-pot cylinder 22 moves upwardly therewith relative to the stationary piston or plunger 25, thus compressing the valve closing spring 28. f Since the pressure of liquid in the liquid delivery line by which the valve is served, and in' the valve intake chamber I3, is exerted externally upon the stationary piston or plunger 25, substantially Ano axially exerted force is opposed to the opening movement of the Valve.

and consequently the manual opening actuation of the valve is not materially resisted, except for the tension of the closing spring 28 and the discharge of liquid from the dash-pot cylinder interior, and therefore the valve may be easily and quickly Yopened regardless of what the liquid pressure at the intake side of the valve may be. This is of considerable advantage, not alone by reason of easing the manipulation of the valve, but also by reason of the fact that necessity for adjusting the valve control and closing means in accommodation to variations of liquid pressure is avoided.

When the valve is opened as described, the movement of the dash-pot cylinder toward the stationary piston or plunger 25 forces the liquid content of the former toseek egress through the ingress and egress means. In thus discharging from the dash-pot cylinder, the liquid passes outwardly4 through the duct 34 and into the chamber 33, in which it rises to pass thence through the port 36 into the outlet passage 35 for final discharge into the valve outlet chamber I4 through which liquid from the line, passing through the open valve port I2, is flowing from the supply line by which the valve is served.

When the valve is manually opened as described, it must be held open by the operator, for as soon as actuating force is released, the valve is self-closing under the reaction of the compressed closing spring 28. Under the closing thrustrgof the closing spring 28, which is purchased `upon the stationary piston or plunger 25, the valve body and its valve member together with Vthe dash-pot cylinder 22 is moved downwardly to carry the valve body and valve member to valve port closing position. As the dash-pot cylinder 22 moves away from the piston or plunger 25, suction effect is initiated and continued until relative movement is arrested by seating of the valve body and valve member in valve port closing position, whereby ingress of liquid to the dash-pot cylinder interior occurs. The liquid is drawn from the outlet chamber I4 inwardly through the outlet passage 35 into the chamber 33 by way of the port 36, to pass thence upwardly through the duct 34 into the dash-pot cylinder. i Such ingress of liquid retards the closing movement of the valve suiiiciently to prevent occurrence of sudden back pressure and resultant water-hammer in the liquid delivery line from which the valve is served.

Upon seating of the valve body and valve member in valve port closing position, the dashpot cylinder is again filled with liquid (see Fig. 1) This liquid content of the dash-pot cylinder is retained against vdraining escape by reason of the form and arrangement of the ingress and egress passageslwhereby the lower end of the duct 34 is submerged in and sealed by a pocket of liquid X, which is retained within the lower end of the chamber 33 below the level of the transverse port 36, and consequently entry of air through the duct 34 is prevented, and outward escape of liquid from the dash-pot cylinder is therefore likewise prevented. Such sealing of the dash-pot cylinder against outward draining of its contained liquid under gravity is required when the valve is so positioned in the liquid line served thereby that its outlet end is downwardly directed with its intakeend upward, which arrangement involves an upwardly opening movable valve means for the valve port I 2.

In some installations of the valve it may be desirable that its position in the line served thereby be reversed viz. so disposed that its outlet end is upwardly directed and its intake end downward (see Fig. 4). Such reversed disposition of the valve requires no radical change in its construction from that above described, but by reason of the fact that in such position its movable valve structure is of downwardly opening arrangement, the fonm of the single valveless ingress and egress means serving the dash-pot cylinder may be simplied, and reduced to a single passage 40 formed in a guide rib or ange, instead of the compound liquid scalable passage above described. This is possible by reason of the fact that the reversed position of the dashpot cylinder 22 disposes the ingress and egress means in upwardly directed disposition, so that draining away under gravity of the liquid content of said dash-pot cylinder cannot occur. In operation, however, so far as discharge of liquid from the dash-pot cylinder under opening movement of the movable valve structure and retardation of the latter during closing movement thereof by ingress of liquid to the dash-pot cylinder is concerned, there is no radical diierence in function or performance.

It will be noted that the ingress and egress means constitutes a continuously open single path of movement for both inward and outward flow of liquid to and from the dash-pot cylinder, as given directions of valve structure movement may require. For this reason, there is no necessity for provision of a. plurality of independent passages, such as one continuously open and one normally closed but adapted to open on main valve opening movement, or of mechanical check or adjustable auxiliary dash-pot valves, as commonly provided in valves of the self-closing type. Consequently a simple inexpensive and yet eflicient construction of means is provided by this invention for slowing the closing movement of self -closing valves against back pressure shock, etc., while at the same time eliminating the axial thrust of supply line pressure in opposition to opening movement of the movable valve structure.

We are aware that changes could be made in the constructions above set forth, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

l. A valve of the kind described comprising a casing formed to provide intake and outlet chambers between which is a valve seat dening a valve port, a valve body cooperative with said valve seat and axially aligned with said valve port for movement toward and from the same within the casing intake chamber, an outwardly open dash-pot cylinder carried on the intake chamber facing side of said valve body so as to be movable therewith, a stationary plunger supported by the valve casing in aligned opposition to said dash-pot cylinder and entered in the outwardly open end portion thereof, a compression spring mounted between said plunger and the closed end of said dash-pot cylinder operative to move the latter and said valve body to valve port closing position, a thrust stud axially dependent from the outlet chamber facing side of said valve body, cam means cooperative with said thrust stud and. operable from the exterior of said valve casing for manually moving the valve body to valve port opening position, guide ribs radial to said thrust stud and slidingly engaging the valve port periphery, and a single valveless liquid ingress and egress means extending from said dash-pot cylinder interior through one of said guide ribs for communica-l tion with the valve casing outlet chamber.

2. A valve of the kind described comprising a casing formed to provide an upper intake chamber and a lower outlet chamber between which is a valve seat dening a valve port, an upwardly opening valve body cooperative with said valve seat and axially aligned with said valve port, an upwardly open dash-pot cylinder carried on the upper side of said valve body so as to be movable therewith, a stationary plunger supported by the valve casing in aligned opposition to said dashpot cylinder and entered in the upwardly open end portion thereof, a compression spring for moving said valve body and dash-pot cylinder to valve port closing position, a thrust stud aX- ially dependent from the underside of said valve body, cam means cooperative with said thrust stud and operable from the exterior of said valve casing for manually moving the valve body to valve port opening position, guide ribs radial to said thrust stud and slidingly engaging the valve port periphery, and liquid ingress and egress means in communication between the interior of said dash-pot cylinder and the valve casing outlet chamber, said ingress and egress means comprising a passage including a liquid trapping section formed within one of said guide ribs.

3. A valve of the kind described comprising a casing formed to provide an upper intake chamber and a lower outlet chamber between which is a valve seat defining a valve port, an upwardly opening valve body cooperative with said valve seat and axially aligned with said valve port, an upwardly open dash-pot cylinder carried on the upper side of said valve body so as to be movable therewith, a stationary plunger supported by the valve casing in aligned opposition to said dash-pot cylinder and entered in the upwardly open end portion thereof, a compression spring for moving said valve body and dashpot cylinder to valve port closing position, a thrust stud axially dependent from the underside of said valve body, cam meansl cooperative with said thrust stud and operable from the exterior of said valve casing for manually moving the valve body to valve port opening position, guide ribs radial to said thrust stud and slidingly engaging the valve port periphery, and liquid ingress and egress means in communication between the interior of said dash-pot cylinder and the valve casing outlet chamber, said ingress and egress means comprising a chamber formed within one of said guide ribs, a tubular duct leading from the bottom interior of said dashpot cylinder downwardly into said chamber but terminating short of the bottom of the latter, and an outlet passage means also formed in said guide rib to lead from said chamber at a point substantially above the lower end of said duct.

HOWARD C. KRONE. WILLIAM MEYER. 

